Workshops
WILLOW WEAVING WORKSHOPS AT THE OLD BREWERY STUDIOS 2025
Welcome to our 2025 willow weaving programme. There is a big change next year as after 25 years of basketry tutoring Sue is reducing her teaching. So from January through to October 2025 we will be providing one, two and three day basketry workshops with guest tutors and Sue will be teaching a couple of workshops with Kirk and Justin Capp.
We are delighted to be hosting, for the fourth year running professional basketmakers from UK, they are fabulous teachers and top quality craftspeople, it is a highlight of our job to welcome them to our workshop venue. Peter Dibble, Nadine Anderson, Tim Johnson, Polly Pollock, Judy Simmonds, Michelle Mateo, Helen Leaf. Judi Evans, Emma and Stuart from the Coddiwomplers and Leather Craftsman Justin Capp. They all work with a glorious palette of sustainable materials and generously share their techniques and practice with students here at our venue. What a privilege!
Workshops Levels
Workshops are suitable for beginners, improvers and advanced students. Not all workshops are suitable for beginners, so before booking, please check which workshops require previous experience in basketry. You need to have strength and flexibility in your hands for all basketry.
Workshop information.
Workshops have 8 students, unless otherwise stated. Workshop times are from 9.30am-4.30pm with a break for elevenses and lunch. You need to bring your own lunch. We request that mobile phones are put on silent throughout the workshop.
How to book a place on a workshop
* Choose a workshop and send an email to Sue at suekirkwillowbaskets@outlook.com (You cannot book workshops online).
*You will then receive an email from Sue with a letter attached which contains information about workshops and payment details. Bookings are only secured once payment has been received in full. Please note:It can take a couple of days for Sue to reply to your booking request.
*We have a refund and cancellation policy. Please read this before making your payment.
*If a workshop is full, you can join a reserve list. We often have cancellations, just email Sue to join a reserve list for a workshop.
WILLOW GROWING DAY WITH KIRK
Friday 10th January 3 spaces available
Ever wanted to plant your own willow bed? On this one day workshop Kirk will cover all aspects of small scale willow growing for basketry. The day will include some hands-on practice in the willow beds and discussion in our workshop. We will cover in detail, all aspects of site preparation, planting, bed maintenance, harvesting and grading suitable for any sized plot. At the end of the day you will take home a handout and 40 cuttings to plant.
Cost is £100 per day, includes 40 cuttings, tea and coffee and soup provided for lunch. 9.30am - 4.30pm. (8 students) Suitable for all levels.
WORKSHOPS WITH GUEST TUTORS
ROLLING RUSH GRANARY BASKETS WITH NADINE ANDERSON
Thursday 6th and Friday 7th March One space available
Cost £240, includes materials, 9.30am- 4.30pm (8 students). Suitable for all levels- less experienced weavers might create smaller baskets.
A frivolous or whimsical basket woven on a spherical mould designed and developed by Nadine Anderson for an exhibition in 2015, so named as they became containers for the rush flowers picked off when weaving.
A distinctive square base where groups of stakes overlay one another at 90 degrees, becomes round quite rapidly with small pairing stitches. Twining techniques allow for exploration of texture and pattern with varied stitches such as an off-set chain pair, or chain waling as the curvy walls of the basket form on moulds. Nadine will encourage makers to incorporate other leaf matter to create unique baskets.
Guidance on material selection, with fine or coarser rushes used at certain points, will aid shaping and stitch size, giving the baskets balance and good form.
Cordage or fine plaits will become the string handles, and the prospect of a workshop full of rush granaries all spinning and rolling at the end of the two days is extremely exciting.
PLY-SPLIT BRAIDING WITH HELEN LEAF
Thursday 8th and Friday 9th May 7 spaces available
Cost £240, includes materials, 9.30am-4.30pm (8 students) Open to all levels, beginners welcome.
This workshop is an introduction to ply-split braiding, and gives a good grounding in the key structures that are used. We start simply and build gradually, making braids, small projects and a basket – these will all embody certain skills and techniques, which you can refer back to in the future if you take things further.
Ply-split braiding is a unique and innovative textile technique, a kind of off-loom weaving where high-twist cords go through the centre of, or are split by, other cords. During the course, you’ll work with wool, cotton and linen, to get a feel for these different materials. We’ll talk about the origins and traditions of the technique, and you’ll see examples of what’s possible when it becomes contemporary craft. Hopefully you’ll leave with a sense of appreciation for what has gone before, and with inspiration for your own place in how things move forward.
ASH SPLINT BASKETRY WITH MICHELLE MATEO
One day course - Making a square bottom to round top basket
Friday 16th May FULL
Cost £150, cost includes pre-split materials, 9.30am-4,30pm. Beginners welcome, suitable for all levels. (6 students)
A one day workshop discovering how to weave a square-bottom to round top ash splint basket. The techniques that participants will learn have their roots in traditional basket making of North America.
The course will cover:
1.Preparation and background: Each ash splint used to weave the basket starts as a section of the tree’s growth ring and is created through pounding an ash log. Students will learn part of the process themselves but the day is primarily weaving the basket. The materials are pounded and split in advance for you.
2.Processes and finishing: You will learn how to do basic weave, understand form and tension.
3.Basic theory: Identifying ash, discussions on choosing a log for pounding, the pounding process and the threat of ash dieback to the species.
Although some previous experience of basketry may be helpful, it is not essential. The skills learnt throughout the course will give you the foundation to adapt future baskets to your own design and it will give you a new appreciation of the mighty ash; its durability, flexibility, strengths and weaknesses.
Two day course - Making a square bottom to round top basket, includes pounding and splitting ash.
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May FULL
Cost £250, includes materials, 9.30am-4.30pm. Although some previous experience of basketry may be helpful, it is not essential.(6 students) Students must have good physical strength and endurance as the first day is very labour intensive.
Spend a two-day workshop discovering how to weave a square-bottom to round top ash splint basket. The techniques that participants will learn have their roots in traditional basket making of North America.
The course will cover:
1.Preparation and background: Each ash splint used to weave the basket starts as a section of the tree’s growth ring and is created through pounding an ash log. Students will do the process themselves and learn the different tools used to prepare them including strip cutters and carving knives.
2.Processes and finishing: You will learn how to do basic weave, understand form and tension, weaving in handles (these will be prepared in advance).
3.Basic theory: Identifying ash, discussions on choosing a log for pounding, the pounding process and the threat of ash dieback to the species.
The skills learnt throughout the course will give you the foundation to adapt future baskets to your own design and it will give you a new appreciation of the mighty ash; its durability, flexibility, strengths and weaknesses.
LOG BASKET WITH FRILLS , A THREE DAY WORKSHOP WITH PETER DIBBLE
Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th June FULL
Cost £320 Suitable for experienced basketmakers such as advanced and intermediate students with physical strength due to the weight of the rods being used. Also the underfoot base requires flexibilty as it is made on the floor under your foot! (8 students)
This course will help you make your log baskets stand out from the crowd & teach you a good few techniques along the way.
We'll start with an underfoot round base, a method not everyone knows how to do. Then once the basket is staked up & the upsett done you'll create a spiral effect up the sides using English Randing. The border will be doubled up to give a nice, chunky look & before the cranked handles are fitted a false foot will be added.
These are all good skills to learn which hopefully you can take on and use in many baskets to come.
RANDOM WEAVE WITH POLLY POLLOCK
Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th June 6 spaces available
Cost £320 suitable for all levels, beginners welcome, 9.30am-4.30pm (8 students)
This course would probably be most suited to students who’ve never done random weave before so could be interesting to students who’ve never done any basketry before and/or students with basketry experience but not random weave - it’s a pretty straightforward technique after the basic principles have been learned! It’s a technique which gives a lot of scope for experimentation ….
Random Weave is a very versatile technique. Its roots are in Japanese Ikebana basketry traditions, but it’s a relatively new approach to making basketry outside Japan, which over the past 10 years or so has become an increasingly popular technique to explore.
It has many similarities to the way weaver birds construct their beautiful and intricate nests.
The technique can be used to create very simple or far more complex work. When worked very small it can be used to make jewellery, for example beads, or scaled up it can be used to create large sculptural pieces and installations - and much in-between.
On this three day course you’ll make a minimum of two basketry pieces. You’ll learn the essentials on your first piece, working with glossy lapping cane, then move on to working with paper yarn to learn more about the technique. You’ll also be able to explore some of the following : weave density, texture, scale, colour and more.
Like many basketry techniques, Random Weave is slow and meditative allowing time for contemplation and experimentation, but once the basics are learned, ; it offers enormous potential for experimentation and innovation.
THE CAITHNESS HAYVE WITH TIM JOHNSON
Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July FULL
Cost £350, 9.30am-4.30pm , (8 students), Suitable for intermediate and advanced makers, if you have previously woven with rush this would be beneficial, but not a requirement, you will make a practice piece first before launching into the final piece.
The Caithness Hayve is a traditional fisherman's bait collecting basket originally made with soft rush (juncus effusus) and worked in the Neolithic braiding technique. Tim first discovered the Hayve in Thurso in 2012 and has been researching and making these special baskets ever since. Variously called Punto de Cofin/Burkina technique and Neolithic Braiding, this family of techniques can be described as a continuous braid where elements are added in and given out on each 'stitch'. Those elements given out are then picked up on the next round creating an open or closed woven structure that can be adapted to a wide variety of materials. While still a well known and diverse technique in Spain today its traditional use in the British Isle appears to have been very local, Tim has only found examples on the North coast of Scotland and in Orkney. During this three day workshop you will practice the starting fringe, the basket unusually starts at the top and is worked downwards, and then go on to make the basket using chair seating rush.
Tim is an English artist and basketmaker based in Spain with over 20 years experience, his work combines research into uncommon soft material techniques and basketmaking traditions and his own innovative contemporary practice.
ARC AND NUT BASKET WITH NADINE ANDERSON
Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th and Friday 26th September 5 spaces available
Cost £320 includes materials, Suitable for intermediate and advanced students. (8 students)
The Arc & Nut Baskets are designed to be stored on a hook and are used for harvesting small fruit or nuts, but could equally be used as a handbag, needlework, or tool bag. Willow and rush are combined in a hybrid frame and stake &strand basket with the twined rush vessel woven about a preformed willow or cobnut handle bow. The bunched and bound start of the tapered Nut and the larks head lashing of the horizontal based Arc, allow for play with different twining techniques. Nadine will encourage you to create varied patterns, textures, and shapes and explore different Trac borders with the use of firm paper moulds to control shaping and the final form.
Nadine will bring preformed handles and there will be the opportunity to use a steamer to form your own. Students are encouraged to bring any interesting leaf material from their garden such as Iris or Crocosmia and any willow bark they may have to experiment with.
The Nut & Arc baskets were designed in 2015 when Nadine looked to rustic split hazel and chestnut work from France and willow “graticcio” fruit drying trays of Italy. She is enjoying the chance to revisit the marrying of willow and rush in her own practice and her workshops.
CELTIC KNOT BASKET WITH JUDY SIMMONDS
Course 1. Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th November 4 space available
Course 2. Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th November 6 spaces available
Cost £240 for one course, includes materials, Suitable for intermediate and advanced students, requires upper body strength. (7 students)
This intriguing Celtic Knot platter is reminiscent of flowing patterns of Victorian carpet beaters, sailor’s knotted rope mats and Celtic stone crosses. Almost magically, tension and balance are the forces which hold the structure together. You can make one to two platters over two days.
In the construction, tension and balance are paramount, holding the intricate design together. The process requires a keen eye, along with strength in your shoulders and hands to maintain the rotating rhythm strand by strand. As the shape tightens, gentle adjustments can be made to raise the edges, allowing for a bowl rather than a platter profile. Once you grasp the rhythm and sequence, you will rotate to the next position, curving the willow rods until they are all locked in place. The second phase involves pulling and easing each rod against its neighbour to ensure even, snug tension throughout.
For students working with willow, the Celtic Knot provides an accessible introduction to its flexible nature and the importance of rods of 'nearly exact' size supporting one another. Unsoaked willow is used for this construction, and the only tools required are sharp snippers or small garden pruners and long-nosed pliers.
During the 2 day course, the logic of the sequence and each movement is thoroughly demonstrated, making progress a straightforward journey with repetition of a single weaving movement. You will begin the course by sorting the 50 rods into groups of similar diameters, followed by trimming and laying out according to the star/pentangle formation. Each rod then follows a specific weaving pattern, guided by one-to-one instruction and ample support for any challenges that may arise. By the end of the workshop, you should have completed your own Celtic Knot platter, with additional bundles of willow available for further practice at home or if time you can weave another basket in the workshop.
TWO DAY WORKSHOPS WITH KIRK AND SUE
BASKETMAKING
These two-day basketry workshops are either taught by both Sue and Kirk. Each tutor has 3 students in two separate rooms, so you benefit from plenty of one-to-one teaching time, plus you can have a look at how the other group's work is progressing and share techniques over lunch. Kirk and Sue have been repeatedly making these baskets for some time and have lots of tips to share with you. You will work with willow grown organically here in King's Cliffe and willow from the Somerset Levels.
Cost £240 includes materials, tea and coffee. 9.30 am till 4.30pm.
Kindling Basket with Kirk and Laundry Baskets with Sue.
Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th March
Advanced and intermediate students only. Please note: the underfoot base in both workshops requires students to work stood up in a 'touch your toes' position and then a kneeling position for some time. Please also note that the heavy rods used in these baskets make the courses unsuitable for those with weaker hands. Strength and flexibilty are essential!
Round Kindling Basket with Kirk. FULL (3 students) On this two-day course students will use heavy home-grown rods to create a chunky and durable basket. We will start with a traditional underfoot base followed by a strong wale and randed sides. A nice simple border will be topped-off with either finger hole handles or, for those with more experience, cranked rope handles.
Buff Laundry Basket from the Huntingdon Blind School with Sue. FULL (3 students) This beautiful basket makes hanging out the washing pure joy! This pattern was copied from a basket we repaired for a friend in the village. We loved the design so much that we make a standard washing basket this way now. Learn how to weave an underfoot base with large 7' buff rods, apply a neat slew, (with ends on the outside to avoid snagging), weave a wide border and add cranked willow rope handles.
Oval Shopping Baskets with Kirk and Asymmetric Baskets with Sue
Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th July
Oval Shopping Basket with Kirk. FULL Intermediate and advanced students only. (3 students) On this two-day course, students will have the opportunity to use our home-grown willows to practice their split-base oval work. We will concentrate on eliminating twist on the base, controlling outward flare of the sides and producing evenly curved shoulders. Finishing with a 5 rod border and wrapped bow handle, students will take home a shopper to be proud of!
Asymmetric Baskets with Sue. FULL Suitable for all levels. (3 students) Working with a variety of fine coloured willows learn how to build one of these pieces originally inspired by the work of Polish Basketmaker Stanislaw Dzuibak. Advanced students build large scale pieces learning how to start a wide diameter base using scalloms. Beginners work on a smaller scale. Learn how to weave with fine willows adding colour to give a painterly finish.
Decorative Trays with Kirk and Multi-Strand Weave Baskets with Sue
Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd September
Suitable for all levels, beginners, intermediate and advanced students
Decorative Trays with Kirk. FULL (3 students)These trays look lovely filled with fruit or bread on your kitchen table. Using French randing and contrasting coloured homegrown willows you can create a variety of decorative effects. Small handles are optional. Add either finger hole handles or, for more experienced makers, rope handles can be added.
Multi-Strand Weave Baskets with Sue. FULL (3 students) Learn how to weave with more than one strand of willow at a time, to create contemporary textured patterns on the sides of your baskets. Choose from a herringbone weave, tick-tock weave or rope coil weave. Beginners can make simple shaped baskets and intermediate and advanced students can choose to make more complex bulbous shaped baskets. Hazel handles can be added if chosen.
Garden/Flower Basket and French Oval Storage Baskets with Sue
Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th October
Garden/Flower Baskets with Kirk. 1 space available Suitable for intermediate and advanced students. (3 students) On this two day course weave with home-grown willows to create a shallow oval basket for use in the garden. The design is originally based on Mary Butcher's Garden Basket and has been adapted with additional colour. You can choose to make your basket shallow for gathering flowers or with slightly higher sides for use in the garden. Packing is added to achieve an elegant rise just next to the handle. We will concentrate on creating an evenly domed base and getting our curves in all the right places! The basket is topped off with a simple 5 rod border and a low wrapped handle.
French Oval Storage Baskets with Sue. FULL Suitable for intermediate and advanced students (3 students) Sue has been lucky enough to be taught by Francois Desplanches who inspired her to make these slender oval storage baskets. They are perfect for storing laptops, phones, magazines and books right next to your favourite armchair, without taking up too much space. Experience the joys of French basketry, the economy of material and neat techniques. Start by weaving a French base on a hoop, then add the side stakes using the scalloming technique. Weave the sides with a double French rand adding coloured rods and finish with a neat border and small rope handles. This basket can be woven with low or high sides.
PLUM BASKET WITH SUE KIRK AND JUSTIN CAPP
Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th April FULL
Cost £240, includes willow and leather, Suitable for all levels, strength and dexterity required (8 students) 9.30am - 4.30pm
Spend the first day weaving a small, round basket if you are a beginner, or an oval basket if you are intermediate or a square basket if advanced. Justin and Sue have designed a variety of different shaped handbags for you to choose from. Weave with organic willows grown in King's Cliffe and once your basket is made, spend the second day with Justin designing the leather straps. Justin is a leather craftsman with many years experience, you learn how to cut and burnish the leather straps, then choose if you would like to learn the mystery braid which is a plait with both ends sealed and gives a decorative finish to a leather strap. You can also learn how to add copper rivets to secure the straps, and how to add hinges to your straps to give movement to the handbag. With the expert help of Justin, each bag can be made to your own personnel design.
WORKSHOPS FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS
We are delighted to welcome our new tutors, Judi Evans and Emma and Stuart from the Coddiwomplers to teach at The Old Brewery Studios for the first time. They are fabulous makers with a great deal of experience in teaching beginners. Both have been regular students at The Old Brewery Studious for some years and are now professional makers. Judi makes beautiful traditional basketry and Emma and Stuart attend UK festivals throughout the year teaching all ages how to weave.
Over the years we have so many people asking us about workshops for complete beginners. So this year we are offering these workshops as they are perfect for those of you who have an itch to weave and try out a small project to see if you enjoy working with willow and learning a few basic techniques. You can then decide if you would one day like to join us again for another course perhaps. We must warn you that once you get weaving , it can be highly addictive!!
BIRDFEEDERS WITH EMMA AND STUART FROM THE CODDIWOMPLERS
Cost £120 per day, 9.30am-4.30pm (8 students)
Tuesday 9th April 7 spaces available
Come and join the Coddiwomplers for a fun, relaxed willow weaving workshop. Under the tuition of 2 experienced basket makers, you will learn a range of traditional skills and techniques, including randing, French randing, pairing and waling whilst creating different bird feeders to use in your garden.
This course is a great first step in basketry and no previous experience is necessary. However, some manual dexterity and hand strength will be required.
SPRING GARDEN SUPPORTS WITH JUDI EVANS
Cost is £120 per day, includes materials, bring your own lunch. 9.30am - 4.30pm. (8 students)
Friday 11th April 6 spaces available
Tuesday 22nd April 6 spaces available
Suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some experience, this workshop will equip you with all the skills you need to make attractive plant supports for your borders and pots.
You will learn how to select and grade unstripped willow rods ready for weaving a 3 rod wale to create chunky spirals and tiered bands around tall thick uprights, finishing with decorative ties at the top.
There are two designs to make so you can try both or make a matching pair. The finished structures stand at around 175 cm tall and are perfect for Sweet Peas, Clematis , Jasmine and other outdoor climbers.
PLAITS AND SPIRALS WITH THE CODDIWOMPLERS
Cost is £120 per day, includes materials, bring your own lunch. 9.30am - 4.30pm. (8 students)
Wednesday 29th October 4 spaces available
Join the Coddiwomplers for a fun, relaxed day learning to use plaiting and spiral weave techniques. Under the tuition of 2 experienced willow weavers, you will have the opportunity to make a range of willow items including snails, wind spinners, birdfeeders and woven bullrushes.
This course is suitable for beginners and no previous experience is necessary. However, some manual dexterity and hand strength will be required.
ROUND SHOPPING BASKET WITH JUDI EVANS
Thursday 30th and Friday 31st October 6 spaces available
Cost is £240, includes materials, bring your own lunch. 9.30am - 4.30pm. (8 students)
This two day workshop is designed to cover core skills and techniques used in stake and strand basketry to make a round shopper that is perfect for trips to market.
We will start by looking at the importance of material selection ,then go on to make a round base . Throughout the course you will learn a number of weaves including pairing , waling , French and English rands, as well as how to drop a 4 rod border , insert and wrap a handle bow ,finishing with a very attractive herringbone weave around the border.
At the end of the two days you will leave with a set of new repeatable skills and a beautiful round shopper .
Suitable for beginners and for those with some experience who may like to explore variations in some of the weaves.